Part 11 of 14: At Christmas eve, George suddenly finds himself in great financial trouble.
Part 01, Part 02, Part 03, Part 04, Part 05, Part 06, Part 07
Part 08, Part 09, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14
It's A Wonderful Life
One man's life can have more impact on things around him than anyone might realize. This was the main lesson in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". George Bailey (Stewart) has so many problems that he is thinking about ending it all - and on Christmas! Meanwhile in heaven, as the angels discuss George, the film shows his life in flashbacks. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence (Travers). George and Clarence got acquainted and in the course of their conversation George confided his frustrations in life to Clarence and wished that it was better if he were not born. Clarence the guardian angel granted George a brief moment of his wish and showed him what his town would have looked like if he were not born. Only then after that brief strange episode did George realized the value of his own life and he saw the unnoticed positive impact his seemingly less significant life had made on the lives of the people around him.
The movie starts off with everyone in town praying for the safety of a man by the name of George Bailey, who had apparently been acting strange lately. God receives these prayers and sends for Clarence Oddbody, an angel who had not yet earned his wings. Clarence is shown parts of George's past in order for Clarence to understand him better.
In the first flashback some children are sledding down a snowy hill in snow shovels, each trying to get further along the ice patch at the bottom than the one before. George, 9 at the time, rescues his younger brother, Harry, when he falls through the ice. George becomes ill from the freezing water and loses his hearing in one ear a few weeks later.
Four years later,George is now 13 and is working at the pharmacy that is run by Mr. Gower. Mary tells him she loves him, but makes sure to say it in his bad ear, so he can't hear her. George talks of traveling the world, his want in life. Mr. Gower is in back making pills, but has obviously tried to drink his sorrows away. George finds a note that says Mr. Gower's son had died and then stops him from unknowingly giving poison pills to a sick family.
George, now a grown man, is getting ready to leave for college. He had helped work at his father's business for a few years, only long enough to make some money for college. More than anything else, his dream was still to leave this city and travel the world. He is invited
Mr. Potter, the owner of the bank, had bought out most of the town, but had always been defeated when trying to acquire the Baily Loan Company. After 4 years, Harry came back a married man. World War 2 starts, and Harry enlists. George is rejected because of his bad ear, and has to once again manage Bailey bank & loans. The Bailey company barely manages to squeak by the depression. Harry comes home a hero after the war. George marries Mary and they have four kids, two boys and two girls.
The reason for George's crisis occurs when forgetful "Uncle Billy", George's uncle who had been helping him run the company from the start, accidentally gives $8,000 to Mr. Potter as he was bragging that they had made it through the year, and that Mr. Potter had not gotten their company. George, very distressed and now starting to lose it, goes and gets drunk at the local bar. He then plans on jumping off a bridge, but Clarance the angel comes down and jumps before him. As Clarence expected, George jumped in and saved him. Clarence tried to tell George how important he was, but George refused to listen, so finally Clarence showed him what Bedford Falls would be like if George had never been born.
The first thing George noticed was that everyone in town was a good deal more angry, rude, and inhospitable. The "Bedford Falls" sign now read "Pottersville", for Mr. Potter owned the enitire town. Everyone now lived in run-down old houses, for the trusting and friendly Bailey bank & loans had died with his father. The city became ran-down, with a Gamorah-ish twist. Mary became a bitter old maid, and his mother had to start a boarding house just to make ends meet. Harry died when he fell into the ice, and so did the transport vessels he saved in the war. Mr. Gower became a drunkard after he was released from prison for poisoning an entire family who had the flu. George became distraught and asks Clarence to take him back.
George, his mood much lighter, ran home and hugged his children. A banker and a lawyer were their, wanting the $8,000. Mary said she had a surprise for him. Just about the entire town came in and donated money to pay the bank. Well over what was needed was raised, as the townspeople showed their gratitude to their good friend, George Bailey. George looked down and saw "Tom Sawyer", the book Clarence had been reading. Inside was a note reminding him just how precious life is. A bell rang on the Bailey Christmas tree, signifying Clarence's earning of his wings.
This movie was a great example of just how valuable the gift of life is, and how large of an impact even one person can have on the life of so many others.
The movie starts off with everyone in town praying for the safety of a man by the name of George Bailey, who had apparently been acting strange lately. God receives these prayers and sends for Clarence Oddbody, an angel who had not yet earned his wings. Clarence is shown parts of George's past in order for Clarence to understand him better.
In the first flashback some children are sledding down a snowy hill in snow shovels, each trying to get further along the ice patch at the bottom than the one before. George, 9 at the time, rescues his younger brother, Harry, when he falls through the ice. George becomes ill from the freezing water and loses his hearing in one ear a few weeks later.
Four years later,George is now 13 and is working at the pharmacy that is run by Mr. Gower. Mary tells him she loves him, but makes sure to say it in his bad ear, so he can't hear her. George talks of traveling the world, his want in life. Mr. Gower is in back making pills, but has obviously tried to drink his sorrows away. George finds a note that says Mr. Gower's son had died and then stops him from unknowingly giving poison pills to a sick family.
George, now a grown man, is getting ready to leave for college. He had helped work at his father's business for a few years, only long enough to make some money for college. More than anything else, his dream was still to leave this city and travel the world. He is invited
Mr. Potter, the owner of the bank, had bought out most of the town, but had always been defeated when trying to acquire the Baily Loan Company. After 4 years, Harry came back a married man. World War 2 starts, and Harry enlists. George is rejected because of his bad ear, and has to once again manage Bailey bank & loans. The Bailey company barely manages to squeak by the depression. Harry comes home a hero after the war. George marries Mary and they have four kids, two boys and two girls.
The reason for George's crisis occurs when forgetful "Uncle Billy", George's uncle who had been helping him run the company from the start, accidentally gives $8,000 to Mr. Potter as he was bragging that they had made it through the year, and that Mr. Potter had not gotten their company. George, very distressed and now starting to lose it, goes and gets drunk at the local bar. He then plans on jumping off a bridge, but Clarance the angel comes down and jumps before him. As Clarence expected, George jumped in and saved him. Clarence tried to tell George how important he was, but George refused to listen, so finally Clarence showed him what Bedford Falls would be like if George had never been born.
The first thing George noticed was that everyone in town was a good deal more angry, rude, and inhospitable. The "Bedford Falls" sign now read "Pottersville", for Mr. Potter owned the enitire town. Everyone now lived in run-down old houses, for the trusting and friendly Bailey bank & loans had died with his father. The city became ran-down, with a Gamorah-ish twist. Mary became a bitter old maid, and his mother had to start a boarding house just to make ends meet. Harry died when he fell into the ice, and so did the transport vessels he saved in the war. Mr. Gower became a drunkard after he was released from prison for poisoning an entire family who had the flu. George became distraught and asks Clarence to take him back.
George, his mood much lighter, ran home and hugged his children. A banker and a lawyer were their, wanting the $8,000. Mary said she had a surprise for him. Just about the entire town came in and donated money to pay the bank. Well over what was needed was raised, as the townspeople showed their gratitude to their good friend, George Bailey. George looked down and saw "Tom Sawyer", the book Clarence had been reading. Inside was a note reminding him just how precious life is. A bell rang on the Bailey Christmas tree, signifying Clarence's earning of his wings.
This movie was a great example of just how valuable the gift of life is, and how large of an impact even one person can have on the life of so many others.
Source of Narrative: http://www.travelin-tigers.com/zhs/rptwondl.htm
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What if you were never been born? What would your family become or your local community looked like?
What if the Child in the manger was never been born on this earth? What would this world become?
